Barn Find Ferrari Dino Sells for £274,560 at Historics Auctioneers

This Barn Find Ferrari Dino was one of the most fascinating cars in Historics Auctioneers’ Summer Serenade sale, and it has now found a new owner.

This dusty 1972 Ferrari 246GT Dino crossed the block after spending years laid up, eventually selling for £274,560. While that figure is well above most enthusiasts’ budgets, it demonstrates just how desirable an honest, long-term ownership Ferrari can be.

Why this Barn Find Ferrari Dino attracted bidders

The Dino wasn’t being marketed as a freshly restored concours example.

Instead, its appeal lay in its history.

First registered on 19th January 1972, the Ferrari had remained in Buckinghamshire for more than 35 years and had been owned by the vendor since 2003. Rather than being used extensively, it had largely enjoyed short trips around the Beaconsfield area before eventually being laid up when health issues prevented further use.

For many collectors, that kind of ownership history is every bit as valuable as gleaming paintwork.

Significant specialist investment

Although the car had spent the last few years off the road, it hadn’t been neglected mechanically.

Its comprehensive history file included substantial invoices from renowned Ferrari specialists DK Engineering.

Work carried out during 2021 included refurbishment of the braking system and a gearbox rebuild, a job requiring engine removal, at a cost of almost £15,000. Further work in 2022 focused on the suspension, exhaust, engine mounts, ignition components and tachometer, adding another invoice of more than £10,000.

That level of documented expenditure undoubtedly gave bidders additional confidence.

Honest cars continue to attract buyers

There was something refreshing about this Dino.

Rather than being over-restored to perfection, it wore the character of a cherished classic that had simply reached a pause in its life.

The Rosso Corsa paintwork dated from 2004, while the mechanical work carried out by DK Engineering meant much of the heavy lifting had already been completed before the car was stored.

Increasingly, collectors seem willing to pay strong money for cars with genuine stories rather than freshly restored examples with little documented history.

A strong result

Historics had estimated the Ferrari at £140,000-£180,000, making the final selling price of £274,560 a significant result.

This Barn Find Ferrari Dino proved that originality, provenance and exceptional documentation remain hugely important at the top end of the classic car market.

If you’d like to see more, the original Historics listing contains a large gallery of photographs together with the full description of the car:

https://www.historics.co.uk/auction/lot/lot-169—1972-ferrari-246gt-dino/?lot=20028

Would you preserve this Dino exactly as it is, or would you restore it to concours condition?